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| cover = Leather jackets.JPG
| cover = Leather jackets.JPG
| alt =
| alt =
| released = 27 October 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-10-25.pdf|title=Music Week|page=52}}</ref>
| released = 15 October 1986
| recorded = January 1985, January – February, May – September 1986
| recorded = January 1985, January – February, May – September 1986
⚫
| studio = [[Wisseloord Studios|Wisseloord]] ([[Hilversum]]) <br> CTS (London) <br> [[Sol Studios|The SOL]] ([[Cookham]])
| venue =
⚫
| genre = [[Pop rock]]
⚫
| studio = [[Wisseloord Studios|Wisseloord]], [[Hilversum]]; CTS, London; [[Sol Studios|The SOL]], [[Cookham]]
⚫
| genre = [[Soft rock]], [[pop rock]]
| length = 45:11
| length = 45:11
| label = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]] (US), [[The Rocket Record Company|Rocket]] (UK)
| label = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]] (US), [[The Rocket Record Company|Rocket]] (UK)
Line 24: Line 23:
| single1 = [[Heartache All Over the World]]
| single1 = [[Heartache All Over the World]]
| single1date = September 1986
| single1date = September 1986
| single2 = [[Slow Rivers]] (with [[Cliff Richard]])
| single2 = [[Slow Rivers]]
| single2date = November 1986
| single2date = November 1986
| single3 = Paris
| single3 = Hoop of Fire
| single3date = 1986
| single3date = 1986 (France)
| single4 = Hoop of Fire
| single4 = Angeline
| single4date = 1986
| single4date = February 1987 (Aus)
| single5 = Angeline
| single5 = Paris
| single5date = February 1987
| single5date = March 1987 (EU)
}}
}}
}}
}}
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|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Lindsay Planer |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leather-jackets-mw0000194370 |title=Leather Jackets – Elton John &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref>
|rev1score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Lindsay Planer |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leather-jackets-mw0000194370 |title=Leather Jackets – Elton John &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=2014-05-19}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev2 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|chapter=John, Elton|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Omnibus Press|location=London|edition=5th concise|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|page=2,003}}</ref>
⚫
|rev2score = (negative)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1986-12-30/entertainment/ca-1283_1_elton-john|last=Matsumoto |first=Jon |work=Los Angeles Times|title= Turn-ons and turn-offs in current home entertainment releases |date=30 December 1986|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Smash Hits]]''
|rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
⚫
|rev3score = (negative)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-30-ca-1283-story.html|last=Matsumoto |first=Jon |work=Los Angeles Times|title= Turn-ons and turn-offs in current home entertainment releases |date=30 December 1986|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
⚫
| rev3score = 8/10<ref name="SmashHits">{{cite journal |last=Braithwaite |first=Simon |title=Album Reviews |journal=[[Smash Hits]] |date=5–18 November 1986 |volume=8 |number=23 |page=76 |url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-5-18-november-1986/page/n73/}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Smash Hits]]''
⚫
| rev4score = 8/10<ref name="SmashHits">{{cite journal |last=Braithwaite |first=Simon |title=Album Reviews |journal=[[Smash Hits]] |date=5–18 November 1986 |volume=8 |number=23 |page=76 |url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-5-18-november-1986/page/n73/}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Leather Jackets''''' is the twentieth studio album by English musician [[Elton John]]. Recorded at [[Sol Studios]] in England and [[Wisseloord Studios]] in the Netherlands, it was released in 1986 and was his first album not to have any top 40 singles in either the US or the UK since 1970's ''[[Tumbleweed Connection]]'', which had no singles released from it. It is also the poorest-charting album of his career.
'''''Leather Jackets''''' is the twentieth studio album by English musician [[Elton John]]. Recorded at [[Sol Studios]] in England and [[Wisseloord Studios]] in the Netherlands, it was released in 1986 and was his first album not to have any top 40 singles in either the US or the UK since 1970's ''[[Tumbleweed Connection]]'', which had no singles released from it. It is also one of his lowest charting studio albums in the United States, peaking at number 91 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart.


This was John's last studio release to be produced by [[Gus Dudgeon]]. After his throat surgery in 1987, [[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]] would be rehired as producer.
This was John's last studio release to be produced by [[Gus Dudgeon]]. After his throat surgery in 1987, [[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]] would be rehired as producer.


==Background==
==Background==
In 2001, Elton regarded "Heartache All Over the World" as the worst song he had ever recorded, calling it "pretty insubstantial";<ref>''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', September 2001 "Elton – The Magnificent Showman", page 46</ref> in 2006, he would declare ''Jackets'' his least favourite of all his albums, saying "[[Gus Dudgeon]] did his best but you can't work with a loony."<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=The Lion King|access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[[Mojo Magazine]] "Fantastic Voyage" by Tom Doyle, October 2006 – issue 155, page 90.</ref>
In 2001, John regarded the track "[[Heartache All Over the World]]" from the album as the worst song he had ever recorded, calling it "pretty insubstantial";<ref>''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', September 2001 "Elton – The Magnificent Showman", page 46</ref> in 2006, he would declare ''Jackets'' his least favourite of all his albums, saying "[[Gus Dudgeon]] did his best but you can't work with a loony."<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=The Lion King|access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[[Mojo Magazine]] "Fantastic Voyage" by Tom Doyle, October 2006 – issue 155, page 90.</ref> He would also call its biker-inspired cover "very butch but a total disaster. I was not a well budgie, I was married and it was just one bag of [[cocaine|coke]] after another."<ref>Elton John – "Sound Your Funky Horn" by Cliff Jones – Mojo Magazine, October 1997.</ref> In spite of this, lyricist [[Bernie Taupin]] believes 1997's ''[[The Big Picture (Elton John album)|The Big Picture]]'' deserves the honour of John's worst album.<ref name=mojo />


⚫
In 2000, Gus Dudgeon said: "There was a chance he could polish himself off. He'd go out and do some coke and it'd be all over his mouth, his nose would be running and I'd go: 'Oh God, this is just awful'."<ref>Gus Dudgeon interview on "Elton John – Behind the Music", [[VH1]] 19 March 2000.</ref> John has also stated in his 2019 autobiography ''Me'' that "it was about as close to an unmitigated disaster than anything I've ever released" and "overall, ''Leather Jackets'' had four legs, a tail, and barked if a postman came to the door".
He would also call its biker-inspired cover "very butch but a total disaster. I was not a well budgie, I was married and it was just one bag of [[cocaine|coke]] after another."<ref>Elton John – "Sound Your Funky Horn" by Cliff Jones – Mojo Magazine, October 1997.</ref>


⚫
"Heartache All Over the World" was the only single from the album to achieve chart success in the US, though it failed to crack the top 50. "[[Slow Rivers]]" is a collaboration with [[Cliff Richard]] that was released as a single in the UK. [[Cher]] collaborated with "Lady Choc Ice" (actually John himself) to write "Don't Trust That Woman".<ref name=":0" /> [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] and [[John Deacon]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] play [[drums]] and [[bass guitar]] respectively on the track "Angeline"; songwriting credit is shared with backing singer Alan Carvell, who composed the "oh-oh-oh's" that can be heard at the beginning and end of the track.<ref name=":1" />
(In spite of this, lyricist [[Bernie Taupin]] believes ''[[The Big Picture (Elton John album)|The Big Picture]]'' deserves the honour of worst album.<ref name=mojo />)


⚫
John played "Paris" during his [[Ice on Fire Tour|1986 US tour]]. He included "Heartache All Over the World" and "Slow Rivers" on his [[Tour De Force (tour)|1986 Australian tour]] with the [[Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]], which would eventually yield John's 1987 live album ''[[Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]]''. "Heartache" was included in the band portion of the show (John opted not to play piano for that number) while "Slow Rivers" was played during the second half of the show with the orchestra. Due to contractual constraints, "Slow Rivers" was not included on ''Live in Australia'', despite the fact that it was from the orchestral portion of the show, which was the basis for the album.
⚫
In 2000, Gus Dudgeon said: "There was a chance he could polish himself off. He'd go out and do some coke and it'd be all over his mouth, his nose would be running and I'd go: 'Oh God, this is just awful'."<ref>Gus Dudgeon interview on "Elton John – Behind the Music", [[VH1]] 19 March 2000.</ref>


"Paris" became a minor FM hit for some jazz radio stations that programmed the track and it reached the Belgium charts, peaking at number 37.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elton John - Paris - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/9d78/Elton-John-Paris |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=www.ultratop.be}}</ref>
John has also stated in his 2019 autobiography ''Me'' that "it was about as close to an unmitigated disaster than anything I've ever released" and "overall, ''Leather Jackets'' had four legs, a tail, and barked if a postman came to the door".


⚫
To date, ''Leather Jackets'' is John's only studio album from the pre-1993 period that has yet to be reissued in remastered form; it last appeared on compact disc in the early 1990s. However, in 2008, it became available for digital download. Two songs from the album, "Hoop of Fire" and "I Fall Apart" were both issued on the ''[[Elton: Jewel Box]]'' compilation in 2020. As of 2023, ''Leather Jackets'' has been remastered on vinyl and is sold on the Elton John website.
⚫
"[[Heartache All Over the World]]" was the only single to achieve chart success in the US, though it failed to crack the top 50. "[[Slow Rivers]]" is a collaboration with [[Cliff Richard]] that was released as a single in the UK. [[Cher]] collaborated with "Lady Choc Ice" (actually John himself) to write "Don't Trust That Woman".<ref name=":0" /> [[Roger Meddows-Taylor|Roger Taylor]] and [[John Deacon]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] play [[drums]] and [[bass guitar]] respectively on the track "Angeline"; songwriting credit is shared with backup singer Alan Carvell, who composed the "oh-oh-oh's" that can be heard at the beginning and end of the track.<ref name=":1" />

⚫
John played "Paris" during his 1986 US tour. He included "Heartache All Over the World" and "Slow Rivers" on his 1986 Australian tour with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which would eventually yield John's live album ''[[Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]]''. "Heartache" was included in the band portion of the show (John opted not to play piano for that number) while "Slow Rivers" was played during the second half of the show with the orchestra. Due to contractual constraints, "Slow Rivers" was not included on ''Live in Australia'', despite the fact that it was from the orchestral portion of the show, which was the basis for the album. On the other hand, "Paris" became a minor FM hit for some jazz stations that programmed the track and reached the Belgium charts, peaking at #37.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elton John - Paris - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/9d78/Elton-John-Paris |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=www.ultratop.be}}</ref>

⚫
This is John's only studio album from the pre-1993 period that has yet to be reissued in remastered form as of 2022; it last appeared on compact disc in the early 1990s. However, in 2008, it became available for digital download, and "Hoop of Fire" & "I Fall Apart" were both issued on ''[[Elton: Jewel Box]]'' compilation.

It's also his fourth album from the 1980s behind [[The Fox (Elton John album)|The Fox]], [[Jump Up! (Elton John album)|Jump Up!]], and [[Breaking Hearts]] that don't have any bonus tracks.


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
Matt Springer placed the album at #31 in his ranking of all of John's studio albums, criticizing it as "the worst of the '80s – awful songs with equally awful production."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/elton-john-albums-ranked/|title=Elton John Albums Ranked Worst to Best|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=25 August 2020}}</ref>
The album received negative reviews. Matt Springer placed the album at number 31 in his ranking of all of John's studio albums, criticizing it as "the worst of the '80s – awful songs with equally awful production."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/elton-john-albums-ranked/|title=Elton John Albums Ranked Worst to Best|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=15 July 2015 |access-date=25 August 2020}}</ref>


In a retrospective review for Allmusic, Lindsay Planer found the material "half-hearted", performances "less than inspired" and John's voice to be "beginning to show signs of extreme fatigue and strain." They did however find "bright moments" on the album including the single and John's collaborations with Cliff Richard and Cher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leather-jackets-mw0000194370|title = Leather Jackets - Elton John &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic}}</ref>
In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], Lindsay Planer found the material "half-hearted", performances "less than inspired" and John's voice to be "beginning to show signs of extreme fatigue and strain." They did however find "bright moments" on the album including "Heartache All Over the World" and John's collaborations with Cliff Richard and Cher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leather-jackets-mw0000194370|title = Leather Jackets - Elton John &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic| website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref>


==Recording==
==Recording==
The majority of the tracks from the album were recorded during the ''[[Ice on Fire]]'' sessions in 1985.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} This was his last in which he played a grand piano before switching to the [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] RD-1000 digital piano for ''[[Reg Strikes Back]]'' and the two albums following that.
The majority of the tracks from the album were recorded during the ''[[Ice on Fire]]'' sessions in 1985.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} It was John's last album in which he played a grand piano before switching to the [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] RD-1000 digital piano for his next two studio albums.

For the first time in John's career, no songs on this album are longer than five minutes.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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* Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–11 on CD reissues.
* Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–11 on CD reissues.
'''Notes'''
'''Notes'''
* On the LP original pressing, the ''Greatest Hits Volume 3'' compilation, and some single releases, the length of "Heartache All Over the World" is 4:01 (incorrectly listed as "3:52" on the album sleeve), while on CD editions, including the 1992 American CD re-release, the version of "Heartache" includes a brief additional [[a cappella]] segment during the final chorus, resulting in a length of 4:17.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Elton-John-Leather-Jackets/release/2270476 Elton John- ''Leather Jackets'' original US vinyl release @Discogs.com] Retrieved 1-29-2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Elton-John-Leather-Jackets/release/451904 Elton John- ''Leather Jackets'' US CD reissue @Discogs.com] Retrieved 1-29-2011.</ref>
* On the original LP pressing, the ''[[Elton John's Greatest Hits Vol. 3|Greatest Hits Vol. 3]]'' compilation, and some single releases, the length of "Heartache All Over the World" is 4:01 (incorrectly listed as "3:52" on the album sleeve), while on CD editions, including the 1992 American CD re-release, the version of "Heartache" includes a brief additional [[a cappella]] segment during the final chorus, resulting in a length of 4:17.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Elton-John-Leather-Jackets/release/2270476 Elton John- ''Leather Jackets'' original US vinyl release @Discogs.com] Retrieved 1-29-2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Elton-John-Leather-Jackets/release/451904 Elton John- ''Leather Jackets'' US CD reissue @Discogs.com] Retrieved 1-29-2011.</ref>
* ''Angeline'' is 3:24 in length on the LP version, but extended to 3:55 on the CD release.
* ''Angeline'' is 3:24 in length on the LP version, but extended to 3:55 on the CD release.


== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

=== Musicians ===
* [[Elton John]] – lead vocals, [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] GS1 (1, 8), grand piano (2, 4–6, 10), [[Roland JX-8P]] (2, 11), [[MIDI]] piano (3), [[Electric grand piano|Yamaha CP-80]] (11)
* [[Elton John]] – lead vocals, [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] GS1 (1, 8), grand piano (2, 4–6, 10), [[Roland JX-8P]] (2, 11), [[MIDI]] piano (3), [[Electric grand piano|Yamaha CP-80]] (11)
* [[Fred Mandel]] – synthesizer programming and [[Music sequencer|sequencing]] (1, 4, 7), [[Yamaha DX7]] (2, 6, 9), [[Korg DW-8000]] (3, 10), [[Roland JX-8P]] (4, 11), [[Roland Jupiter 8]] (5, 6, 10, 11), Roland P60 (7, 9), [[Sequential Circuits Prophet 2000|Prophet 2000]] (7), Yamaha TX816 [[Rhodes piano|Rhodes]] (10), grand piano (11)
* [[Fred Mandel]] – synthesizer programming and [[Music sequencer|sequencing]] (1, 4, 7), [[Yamaha DX7]] (2, 6, 9), [[Korg DW-8000]] (3, 10), [[Roland JX-8P]] (4, 11), [[Roland Jupiter 8]] (5, 6, 10, 11), Roland P60 (7, 9), [[Sequential Circuits Prophet 2000|Prophet 2000]] (7), Yamaha TX816 [[Rhodes piano|Rhodes]] (10), grand piano (11)
* [[Davey Johnstone]] – acoustic guitar (1-5, 7, 9), electric guitar (2-11), backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7-10)
* [[Davey Johnstone]] – acoustic guitar (1–5, 7, 9), electric guitar (2–11), backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7–10)
* [[David Paton]] – bass (2, 3, 5, 9-11)
* [[David Paton]] – bass (2, 3, 5, 9–11)
* Paul Westwood – bass (6)
* Paul Westwood – bass (6)
* [[John Deacon]] – bass (8)
* [[John Deacon]] – bass (8)
* [[Gus Dudgeon]] – drum programming (1), electronic percussion (1, 4, 7)
* [[Gus Dudgeon]] – drum programming (1), electronic percussion (1, 4, 7)
* [[Dave Mattacks]] – drums (2, 5)
* [[Dave Mattacks]] – drums (2, 5)
* [[Charlie Morgan (musician)|Charlie Morgan]] – drums (3, 4, 6, 7, 9-11), electronic percussion (4)
* [[Charlie Morgan (musician)|Charlie Morgan]] – drums (3, 4, 6, 7, 9–11), electronic percussion (4)
* [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] – drums (8)
* [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] – drums (8)
* Graham Dickson – electronic percussion (1, 3, 4, 7)
* Graham Dickson – electronic percussion (1, 3, 4, 7)
Line 136: Line 131:
* [[Martyn Ford]] – orchestra contractor (6)
* [[Martyn Ford]] – orchestra contractor (6)
* [[Gavyn Wright]] – orchestra leader (6)
* [[Gavyn Wright]] – orchestra leader (6)
* Alan Carvell – backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7-10)
* Alan Carvell – backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 7–10)
* [[Katie Kissoon]] – backing vocals (2)
* [[Katie Kissoon]] – backing vocals (2)
* [[Pete Wingfield]] – backing vocals (2)
* [[Pete Wingfield]] – backing vocals (2)
* Shirley Lewis – backing vocals (4, 5, 8-10)
* Shirley Lewis – backing vocals (4, 5, 8–10)
* Gordon Neville – backing vocals (4, 5, 7-10)
* Gordon Neville – backing vocals (4, 5, 7–10)
* [[Kiki Dee]] – backing vocals (6)
* [[Kiki Dee]] – backing vocals (6)
* [[Cliff Richard]] – lead vocals (6)
* [[Cliff Richard]] – lead vocals (6)
Line 146: Line 141:
* Albert Boekholt – [[E-mu Emulator|Emulator]] vocals and samples (9)
* Albert Boekholt – [[E-mu Emulator|Emulator]] vocals and samples (9)


== Production ==
=== Production ===
* Produced by Gus Dudgeon
* Produced by Gus Dudgeon
* Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 10 & 11 engineered by Graham Dickson
* Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 10 & 11 engineered by Graham Dickson
* Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 8 engineered by [[Stuart Epps]]
* Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 8 engineered by [[Stuart Epps]]
* Assistant Engineers – Albert Boekholt and Ronald Prent
* Assistant engineers – Albert Boekholt and Ronald Prent
* Mixed by Graham Dickson and Gus Dudgeon
* Mixed by Graham Dickson and Gus Dudgeon
* Mastered by [[Greg Fulginiti]] (US)
* Mastered by [[Greg Fulginiti]] (US)
* Studio Coordinators – Steve Brown and Adrian Collee
* Studio coordinators – Steve Brown and Adrian Collee
* Art Direction and Design – [[David Costa (graphic designer)|David Costa]]
* Art direction and design – [[David Costa (graphic designer)|David Costa]]
* Artwork – Andrew Christian
* Artwork – Andrew Christian
* Photography – [[Gered Mankowitz]]
* Photography – [[Gered Mankowitz]]
Line 160: Line 155:


==Charts==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for ''Leather Jackets''
|-
!Chart (1986)
! scope="col"| Chart (1986–1987)
!Peak <br> position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=AUS>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| align="center"| 4
|4
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|22|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|Austrian Albums Chart<ref name="atchart">{{cite web|title=austriancharts.at Elton John – Leather Jackets|work=Hung Medien|language=de|format=ASP|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|22
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|38|chartid=0755|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[RPM (magazine)|Canadian ''RPM'' Albums Chart]]<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8532&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 Library and Archives Canada.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112115112/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8532&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |date=12 January 2016 }} Retrieved 29 October 2011</ref>
|38
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|34|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[MegaCharts|Dutch Mega Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl Elton John – Leather Jackets|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|work=Hung Medien|language=nl|format=ASP|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|34
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Germany4|21|id=474|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref name="NZchart">{{cite web|title=charts.nz Elton John – Leather Jackets|work=Hung Medien|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|34
|-
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|34|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[VG-lista|Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart]]<ref name="Nochart">{{cite web|title=norwegiancharts.com Elton John – Leather Jackets|work=Hung Medien|publisher=VG-lista|format=ASP|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|12
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|12|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[Sverigetopplistan|Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref name="sechart">{{cite web|title=swedishcharts.com Elton John – Leather Jackets|format=ASP|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|language=sv|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|31
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|31|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref name="chchart">{{cite web|title= Elton John – Leather Jackets – hitparade.ch|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Leather+Jackets&cat=a|language=de|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|publisher=Swiss Music Charts|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|13
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|13|artist=Elton John|album=Leather Jackets|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="UKchart">{{cite web| url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/Leather%20Jackets| title= The Official Charts Company – Elton John – Leather Jackets| publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|format=PHP| access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|24
|-
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|24|date=19861109|refname=UK albums|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="USchart">{{cite web|title=allmusic ((( Leather Jackets > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))|publisher=allmusic.com|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r10485/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=29 October 2011}}</ref>
|91
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|91|artist=Elton John|refname=Billboard 200|rowheader=true|accessdate=20 July 2024}}
|align="left"|[[Media Control Charts|West German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref name="dechart">{{cite web
| url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Elton+John&title=Leather+Jackets&cat=a&country=de| title=Album Search: Elton John – Leather Jackets| language=de| publisher=Media Control| access-date=29 October 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|21
|}
|}


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{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|award=Gold|title=Leather Jackets|artist=Elton John|id=3237|access-date=1 June 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|award=Gold|title=Leather Jackets|artist=Elton John|id=3237|access-date=1 June 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|artist=Elton John|title=Leather Jacket|region=Spain|nocert=true|relyear=1985|salesamount=12,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-01-30.pdf|title=Elton John - Spain|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=45|date=30 January 1988|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|artist=Elton John|title=Leather Jacket|region=Spain|nocert=true|relyear=1985|salesamount=12,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-01-30.pdf|title=Elton John - Spain|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|page=45|date=30 January 1988|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1986|region=Switzerland|artist=Elton John|title=Leather Jackets|certyear=1986|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whytes.ie/art/elton-john-1986-gold-disc-award/144443|date=20 February 2023|title=Polygram award to Elton John for sales of over 25,000 of the Leather Jackets" album in Switzerland}}</ref>}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Leather Jackets|artist=Elton John|type=album|relyear=1985|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|id=3771-2982-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Leather Jackets|artist=Elton John|type=album|relyear=1985|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|id=3771-2982-2}}
{{certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

Latest revision as of 00:27, 13 October 2024

Leather Jackets
Studio album by
Elton John
Released27 October 1986[1]
RecordedJanuary 1985, January – February, May – September 1986
StudioWisseloord (Hilversum)
CTS (London)
The SOL (Cookham)
GenrePop rock
Length45:11
LabelGeffen (US), Rocket (UK)
ProducerGus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Ice on Fire
(1985) 		Leather Jackets
(1986) 		Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
(1987)
Singles from Leather Jackets
  1. "Heartache All Over the World"
    Released: September 1986
  2. "Slow Rivers"
    Released: November 1986
  3. "Hoop of Fire"
    Released: 1986 (France)
  4. "Angeline"
    Released: February 1987 (Aus)
  5. "Paris"
    Released: March 1987 (EU)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Los Angeles Times(negative)[4]
Smash Hits8/10[5]

Leather Jackets is the twentieth studio album by English musician Elton John. Recorded at Sol Studios in England and Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands, it was released in 1986 and was his first album not to have any top 40 singles in either the US or the UK since 1970's Tumbleweed Connection, which had no singles released from it. It is also one of his lowest charting studio albums in the United States, peaking at number 91 on the Billboard 200 chart.

This was John's last studio release to be produced by Gus Dudgeon. After his throat surgery in 1987, Chris Thomas would be rehired as producer.

Background

[edit]

In 2001, John regarded the track "Heartache All Over the World" from the album as the worst song he had ever recorded, calling it "pretty insubstantial";[6] in 2006, he would declare Jackets his least favourite of all his albums, saying "Gus Dudgeon did his best but you can't work with a loony."[7][8] He would also call its biker-inspired cover "very butch but a total disaster. I was not a well budgie, I was married and it was just one bag of coke after another."[9] In spite of this, lyricist Bernie Taupin believes 1997's The Big Picture deserves the honour of John's worst album.[7]

In 2000, Gus Dudgeon said: "There was a chance he could polish himself off. He'd go out and do some coke and it'd be all over his mouth, his nose would be running and I'd go: 'Oh God, this is just awful'."[10] John has also stated in his 2019 autobiography Me that "it was about as close to an unmitigated disaster than anything I've ever released" and "overall, Leather Jackets had four legs, a tail, and barked if a postman came to the door".

"Heartache All Over the World" was the only single from the album to achieve chart success in the US, though it failed to crack the top 50. "Slow Rivers" is a collaboration with Cliff Richard that was released as a single in the UK. Cher collaborated with "Lady Choc Ice" (actually John himself) to write "Don't Trust That Woman".[11] Roger Taylor and John Deacon of Queen play drums and bass guitar respectively on the track "Angeline"; songwriting credit is shared with backing singer Alan Carvell, who composed the "oh-oh-oh's" that can be heard at the beginning and end of the track.[12]

John played "Paris" during his 1986 US tour. He included "Heartache All Over the World" and "Slow Rivers" on his 1986 Australian tour with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which would eventually yield John's 1987 live album Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. "Heartache" was included in the band portion of the show (John opted not to play piano for that number) while "Slow Rivers" was played during the second half of the show with the orchestra. Due to contractual constraints, "Slow Rivers" was not included on Live in Australia, despite the fact that it was from the orchestral portion of the show, which was the basis for the album.

"Paris" became a minor FM hit for some jazz radio stations that programmed the track and it reached the Belgium charts, peaking at number 37.[13]

To date, Leather Jackets is John's only studio album from the pre-1993 period that has yet to be reissued in remastered form; it last appeared on compact disc in the early 1990s. However, in 2008, it became available for digital download. Two songs from the album, "Hoop of Fire" and "I Fall Apart" were both issued on the Elton: Jewel Box compilation in 2020. As of 2023, Leather Jackets has been remastered on vinyl and is sold on the Elton John website.

Critical reception

[edit]

The album received negative reviews. Matt Springer placed the album at number 31 in his ranking of all of John's studio albums, criticizing it as "the worst of the '80s – awful songs with equally awful production."[14]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Lindsay Planer found the material "half-hearted", performances "less than inspired" and John's voice to be "beginning to show signs of extreme fatigue and strain." They did however find "bright moments" on the album including "Heartache All Over the World" and John's collaborations with Cliff Richard and Cher.[15]

Recording

[edit]

The majority of the tracks from the album were recorded during the Ice on Fire sessions in 1985.[citation needed] It was John's last album in which he played a grand piano before switching to the Roland RD-1000 digital piano for his next two studio albums.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Leather Jackets"4:10
2."Hoop of Fire"4:14
3."Don't Trust That Woman" (Cher, Lady Choc Ice [John][11])4:58
4."Go It Alone"4:26
5."Gypsy Heart"4:46
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Slow Rivers" (duet with Cliff Richard)3:13
2."Heartache All Over the World"4:01
3."Angeline" (John, Taupin, Alan Carvell[12])3:56
4."Memory of Love" (John, Gary Osborne)4:08
5."Paris"4:01
6."I Fall Apart"4:00
Total length:45:11
  • Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–11 on CD reissues.

Notes

  • On the original LP pressing, the Greatest Hits Vol. 3 compilation, and some single releases, the length of "Heartache All Over the World" is 4:01 (incorrectly listed as "3:52" on the album sleeve), while on CD editions, including the 1992 American CD re-release, the version of "Heartache" includes a brief additional a cappella segment during the final chorus, resulting in a length of 4:17.[16][17]
  • Angeline is 3:24 in length on the LP version, but extended to 3:55 on the CD release.

Personnel

[edit]

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Musicians

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • Produced by Gus Dudgeon
  • Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 10 & 11 engineered by Graham Dickson
  • Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 8 engineered by Stuart Epps
  • Assistant engineers – Albert Boekholt and Ronald Prent
  • Mixed by Graham Dickson and Gus Dudgeon
  • Mastered by Greg Fulginiti (US)
  • Studio coordinators – Steve Brown and Adrian Collee
  • Art direction and design – David Costa
  • Artwork – Andrew Christian
  • Photography – Gered Mankowitz
  • Management – John Reid

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Leather Jackets
Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[18] 4
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] 22
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[20] 38
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[21] 34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 21
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 34
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] 12
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 24
US Billboard 200[28] 91

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] Gold 7,500^
Spain — 12,000[30]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[31] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 52.
  2. ^ Lindsay Planer. "Leather Jackets – Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  4. ^ Matsumoto, Jon (30 December 1986). "Turn-ons and turn-offs in current home entertainment releases". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  5. ^ Braithwaite, Simon (5–18 November 1986). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. 8 (23): 76.
  6. ^ Uncut, September 2001 "Elton – The Magnificent Showman", page 46
  7. ^ a b "The Lion King". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  8. ^ Mojo Magazine "Fantastic Voyage" by Tom Doyle, October 2006 – issue 155, page 90.
  9. ^ Elton John – "Sound Your Funky Horn" by Cliff Jones – Mojo Magazine, October 1997.
  10. ^ Gus Dudgeon interview on "Elton John – Behind the Music", VH1 19 March 2000.
  11. ^ a b Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom (1996). Rocket Man: Elton John From A - Z (Paperback ed.). Praeger. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1.
  12. ^ a b Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom (1996). Rocket Man: Elton John From A - Z (Paperback ed.). Praeger. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1.
  13. ^ "Elton John - Paris - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Elton John Albums Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Leather Jackets - Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  16. ^ Elton John- Leather Jackets original US vinyl release @Discogs.com Retrieved 1-29-2011.
  17. ^ Elton John- Leather Jackets US CD reissue @Discogs.com Retrieved 1-29-2011.
  18. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Leather Jackets" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0755". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Leather Jackets" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Leather Jackets" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – Leather Jackets". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Leather Jackets". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Leather Jackets". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Leather Jackets". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  29. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Leather Jackets". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Elton John - Spain" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 January 1988. p. 45. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Polygram award to Elton John for sales of over 25,000 of the Leather Jackets" album in Switzerland". 20 February 2023.
  32. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Leather Jackets". British Phonographic Industry.
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